IPC Code of Conduct for Teachers June 2011 edition. Last updated August 2016

PREAMBLE The IPC Code of Professional Conduct for teachers is a suggested guide for IPC member and franchise schools which may be amended and formally promulgated. The guide and its provisions shall take effect during normal working hours and during official and non-official representation of the IPC school.

1. Integrity 1.1 You must act with integrity and honesty. Professional integrity is central to your role and must characterize all your professional dealings – with clients, colleagues, professional associations and the public.

2. Public and Inter-se Confidence 2.1 You must act in a manner in which colleagues within the school and profession can place their trust in you. Any behavior within or outside of your professional duties that undermine the trust of colleagues, clients or the public damages the confidence of others and is reflective of the corporation.

3. Independence and Impartiality 3.1 “Independence” means your ability to independently withhold views on any topic that could cause offense, be interpreted as discriminatory or that is illegal, including your views on religion, sexuality, and politics. “Views” means any view that could cause offence, including, but not limited to the topics that are listed above.3.2 You must not engage in discussion, disseminate Views via email, mail or any form of propagation.3.3 You must act impartial during official or non-official representation of the school, particularly when Views that could cause offence are provoked or directly asked of you.3.4 You must not provoke colleagues or members of the public to express their views.

4. Equality and Diversity 4.1 You must not during your professional dealings with colleagues, clients, third parties or the public discriminate against any person or victimize or harass them on the grounds of: -(a) race or racial group (including color, nationality and ethnic or national origins)(b) sex (including marital status, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity and paternity);(c) sexual orientation (including civil partnership status);(d) religion or belief;(e) age;(f) disability.

5. Complaints Handling 5.1 Any complaint received whether informal or formal shall be logged with the department director and preschool director. Where appropriate, the receiver of the complaint will respond within 12 hours notifying the complainant that the complaint has been received and is being reviewed.5.2 All complaints will formally be responded to within 36 hours.

6. Professional Dress 6.1 You must wear appropriate clothing suitable for a teaching environment during normal school hours.6.2 During client meetings, visits, representation of the corporation or at the request of your department director or preschool director you shall wear smart professional clothing.

7. Conflict of Interest 7.1 You must notify your department director or the preschool director, or both if you are instructed by a colleague, superior or client to perform a task that conflicts with your cultural obligations or personal beliefs such as the observation of a religious holiday or dealing with a client who impairs your ability to perform tasks diligently and competently.

8. Confidentiality 8.1 You must never release private and confidential information concerning a colleague, client or public information.8.2 You must use your reasonable discretion in determining the sensitivity of information that you communicate with others.8.3 You must observe the privacy rights of colleagues and never divulge personal information given to you in confidence unless such information is released in order to overt placing the corporation into disrepute, to report the misconduct of an employee or to prevent potential liability.8.4 Pursuant to 8.2 – 8.3 above, you shall only release information given to you in confidence to your department director or preschool director.8.5 Pursuant to 8.1 – 8.3 above you shall use your reasonable discretion in the manner and method of communicating sensitive information. Where appropriate you shall request a private meeting with your department director or preschool director to divulge information that is necessary to achieve the desired effect of 8.3.8.6 Pursuant to 8.1 - 8.4 above you shall not negatively discuss the performance or conduct of employees to other employees or the public.

9. Level of Service 9.1 You must conduct all tasks in a competent, professional, and diligent manner.9.2 You shall observe professional and organization rules in handling telephone calls, sending and responding to emails or correspondence and general client handling.

10. Uniformity 10.1 You shall familiarize yourself with the preschool mission objectives and vision (explicit or implied by organizational culture, references or school meetings)10.2 You shall observe professional and preschool rules on uniformity in dealing with terms, phrases, definitions and descriptions of preschool products and services.

11. Commencement and Survivorship 11.1 This Code of Professional Conduct shall commence at the date of your employment and may be amended from time to time with 7 days written notice.11.2 Provisions of this Code of Professional Conduct may survive after the date that your employment is terminated and is subject to contractual terms contained in your Confidentiality Agreement, Employment Contract or other contractual obligations.